UPDATED: Indian River Referendum #2 – DEFEATED

UPDATED – 5/7/19  8:30pm – The Indian River School District’s major capital improvement referendum was defeated by district residents on Tuesday, May 7. The unofficial vote totals are as follows:

FOR:         4,578
AGAINST: 4,643

“The defeat of the referendum is a serious blow to the Indian River School District,” Superintendent Mark Steele said. “We are faced with an anticipated enrollment growth of more than 1,700 students in the next six years and there is no guarantee the State of Delaware will approve funding for these construction projects in the future. As a result, we may not be able to host another major capital improvement referendum for several years. The district has no choice but to utilize portable classrooms to alleviate overcrowding in our schools. We project the need for about 22 portables across the district in the next five years. The cost of portable classrooms is astronomical and these units must be funded through our operating budget. This will likely necessitate the need for a current expense referendum sooner than we expected. However, the district respects the democratic process and will examine all possible options to keep our students safe and provide them with the best learning environment possible.”

The referendum sought funding for the construction of a new Sussex Central High School, an eight-classroom addition at Indian River High School and a four-classroom addition at Selbyville Middle School.

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UPDATED:  The Indian River School District second referendum will be held on Tuesday, May 7^th.  This referendum will ask district voters to approve funding for the construction of a new Sussex Central High School, an eight-classroom addition at Indian River High School and a four-classroom addition for Selbyville Middle School.  This would bring a tax increase of just under $69 for the average district property owner – and would be phased in over a four-year period.

Voting takes place from 7am to 8pm –

• East Millsboro Elementary – 29346 Iron Branch Rd., Millsboro, DE 19966
• Georgetown Elementary – 301-A West Market St,, Georgetown, DE 19947
• Indian River High School – 29772 Armory Rd., Dagsboro, DE 19939
• Long Neck Elementary – 26064 School Lane, Millsboro, DE 19966
• Lord Baltimore Elementary – 120 Atlantic Ave., Ocean View, DE 19970
• Selbyville Middle School – 80 Bethany Rd., Selbyville, DE 19975

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE REFERENDUM